Carrying carton for containers



April 6, 1965 c. L.. cHAMPLlN 3,176,902

CARRYING CARTON FOR CONTAINERS 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. l5, 1962 April 6, 1965 c.L.cHAMP| 1N I 3,176,902

CARRYING CARTON l"FOR CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 15, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 6, 1965 c. L. cHAMPLlN 3,176,902

CARRYING CARTON FOR CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 15, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 A INVENTOR. Cfiafles L. Cia/:galn

United States Patent Oil ice lbbg Patented Apr. 6, 1965 3,176,902 CARRYING CARTN FOR CONTAINERS Charles L. Champlin, Rittman, Ohio, assigner to Packaging Corporation of America, Evanston, Ill., a corporation ci Delaware Filed Jan. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 166,351 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-46) This invention relates to a carton in which several small containers, such as beverage bottles, may be packaged for convenient handling, storing, selling and carrying as a unit.

Bottled beverages are commonly packaged in small paper board carrying cartons. Each carton may, for example, contain six bottles arranged in two rows of three bottles each, and these cartons may be packed into shipping cases for shipment to the retail store. During the packing of the shipping cases and subsequently during transit, the bottles in the cartons are frequently subjected to impact and jarring. As a result, many bottles are apt to become broken unless measures are taken to protect the bottles from engagement with one another in the cartons. In one carton design partitioning is employed between the bottles, and the bottles are carried basket style. Another and more recent design has provided a more complete encasement of the bottles, and the separation of the bottles is accomplished by engagement of the bottle necks at the carton top and by employing tabular separators at the carton bottom. The bottles are loaded into the latter type carton through the sides, and side flaps, which are initially opened to permit loading of the carton, are ladhesively secured in their closed position after loading. Although the degree of impact protection afforded the bottles by these two types of cartons has been found to be approximately the same, the latter type carton carrier has many distinct advantages. However, it is not always convenient or desirable to glue the aps of the carton closed after loading. Moreover, it is desirable that the bottles in the cartons be more fully protected from breakage under impact and jarring, and ways have been sought to improve this important function of the carton carrier. Of course, any commercially acceptable carton carrier must combine the desired features of a glue-free closure and improved bottle protection with the necessary features of economy and adaptation to modern automatic machine loading.

lt is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide an economical bottle carrying carton which may be closed without gluing and will afford maximum protection for the bottles.

It is another object of this invention to provide a carrying carton into which a plurality of containers may be easily and automatically loaded by the packer and from which the containers may be subsequently and easily removed by the consumer.

lt is still a further object of this invention to provide a novel, easy opening 'bottle carrier which will maintain a desired separation between the bottles at both the top and bottom thereby giving a maximum degree of protection to the bottles against impact breakage.

it is an additional object of this invention to provide a carrying carton for bottles or other similar containers which will afford a significantly greater degree of protection to the bottles than is presently available with carriers of previous design.

lt is still another object of this invention to provide an economically designed bottle carrier carton which has a pleasing apearance, may be easily and quickly loaded and may be closed and sealed without the use of adhesives.

Other objects will lbe seen, and a further understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following iii) description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The carrying carton constructed in accordance with this invention is especially adapted to carry bottles or other containers of the type having tapered and capped necks. lu accordance with one embodiment, the carton includes a top panel, a bottom panel, and a pair of end panels intermediate the top and bottom panels. These panels are connected together to form a collapsible body which when set up is initially open at both sides. Side flaps and tuck flaps are also provided, the side flaps being hinged to the side edges of the top and bottom panels of the body and the tuck flaps hinged to the side edges of the end panels of the body. These side .and tuck ilaps are movable between a closed position wherein they at least partially close the sides of the body and an open position wherein the side open-ings of the body are exposed to permit the charging of containers into the body therethrough. The side flaps and tuck laps have cooperative locking tongue-and-slot formations thereon which interlock as these flaps are moved to their closed position. ln this manner, the flaps are maintained in their closed position without gluing, and the containers may be tirmly retained in position within the carton body. A double hinging feature facilitates the closing movement of the side flaps to effect interengagcment of the tongue-iand-slot formations, andthe carton is thus readily adaptable to automatic machine loading and closing.

Means is preferably provided in the top panel of the body for engaging the neck of each container in the carton. In the preferred embodiment this means includes hinged top panel edge portions and apertures spaced along the hinge line and extending at least partially into the edge portions. The apertures are laterally opened or raised to receive the necks of the containers when the top panel edge portions and the attached top side flaps are swung to their open position. These apertures are then closed or lowered when the top panel edge portions and top side flaps are moved to their closed position.

At the bottom of the carton are a number of push-up tab sets which are preferably struck from the bottom panel. Each tab set is adapted for interposition between the bottoms of .adjacent containers, and each set consists of two tabs hinged in closely spaced relationship and movable from the plane of the bottom panel into a substantially upstanding back-to-back position. These double push-up tab sets are an important feature of the invention and resiliently hold the container bottoms in spaced relationship. Together with the top neck engagement, these tab sets provide maximum protection against the breakage of the containers.

Attention is now directed to the drawings in which:

FlG. 1 is a perspective view of a fully loaded carton constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a partially loaded carton showing the flaps at one side thereof in their open position preparatory to the insertion 0f containers into that side of the carton;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a carton of slightly modified design showing the relationship between the tongue-and-slot formations on the side flaps and tuck flaps just prior to interlocking engagement;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the carton constructed in FIG. 2 showing one side of the carton after the contamers have been charged thereinto and before the flaps on that side of the carton have been moved to their closed position;

FIG. 5 is a plan view on a reduced scale of a preformed blank from which the carton illustrated in FIGS. l and 2 may be constructed;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the assembled blank in collapsed condition;

atrasos Y Y 3 FIG. 7 is a plan view of a at preformed blank from which the slightly modified carton'illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4`may be constructed; and FIG, 8 is a plan View of the assembled blank for the modified carton showing this blank in its collapsed condition. v

vThe cartons constructed in accordance with this invention are adapted to hold a plurality of small con? tainers such as standard beverage bottles 12. Each bottle has a generally cylindrical body portion 12a, the bottom of which is Vclosed and the top of which is open and tapered. into a restricted neck 12b. VA cap 14 is crimped over the top of the neck portion 12b of each container to thereby seal the container in theusual and well-lmown manner. The containers illustrated are glass bottles, and the carrying carton of this invention is particularly adapted to give maximum protection to these or other similar type containers whichV are'subject to breakage; however, various features of the invention may be advantageously employed in cartons for various other types and shapes of containers.V

The carton 15 of the preferred embodiment is illusytrated in FIGS.V l and 2. This carton is formed from the paper board blank illustrated in FIG. 5V and comprises a top panel 18, a bottom panel 27), and two intermediate end panels 22 and 24. At the left-hand end of the bottom panel 20, as viewed in FIG. 5, is a lap 26 whichy is adhesively attached to the right-hand or free end of end panel 24 to form the carton 16, which in FIG. 6 is illustrated in its collapsed condition, and in FIGS. l and 2 is illustrated in its set-up condition; All parts of'the carton are thus integral, and Vthe carton may be easily formed by automatic or semi-automatic machines.

-Cut in the top panel 18 are a number of apertures Y 30 through which the capped ends of the bottle necks 12b are adapted to extend. Since the carton in the illustrated embodiment is adapted to hold sixbottles arranged in two rows of three bottles each, the apertures 39 in the top panel are also arranged in two rows ofV s' 'portions of the top panel 18 are disposed in these edge portions. It will be noted that the portion of the top panel 18 intermediate the edge portions 18al and 18h is connected to the end panels 22 and 24, whereas the Vedge portions themselves are disconnected from these end panels. Thus, the top panel edge portions 18a and 18b are each free to move or pivot with respect to the end panels about the fold lines 32 and 34 between an open and av closed position. Since some of the aperturel defining portions of the top panel are disposed in these edge portions, the bottles may be easily loaded intoV the carton when these edgeV portions and the flaps are swung to their open position as shown in FIG. 2. A'pair of finger holes 36 and 38 in the top panel 418 between the two rows of bottle neck receiving apertures 30 permit easy handling and'carrying of thefcar-ton.

` The "end panels 22 and 24 are identical, and they are rectangular in 4shape except for angularcuts across their top corners to sever the edge portions 18a and 18h of A panel` Ztl of the carton. An additional iinger Vgrip holeV carton. Thus, the capped top ends of the necks 12b wiil protrude through the apertures in the top panel 1S when the bottoms of the bottles are resting on the bottom 4i) may be provided ineach end panel for carton handling convenience.V

The bottom panel 20 is rectangular and hasV a plurality of double tab sets 42 struck therefrom, each set consisting of two tabs 42a and 42b which are hinged to the bottom panel 2d along closely spaced parallel fold lines 52e and zi-Zd, respectively. When the'carton is set up, the tabs in each set may be swung upwardly out of the plane of the bottom panel 2t? and intorsubstantially upstanding back-to-back relationship, such as illustrated in FIG. 2. This arrangement of double tab sets 42 is an impor-tant feature and provides a very unexpected in-Y crease in the protection of the bottles against breakage due to impact, as will be morefully discussed.

Hinged to the side edges of the top panel i3 are substantially rectangular top side liaps 44 yand 45. A pair of spaced, substantially arrow-shaped tongue fqrmfations d are cut into each of the top side flaps 44 and d6, at

approximately the two free end corners thereof leaving Y the space between the .side edges of the top and bottom panels 1S and 20. f

Hinged to the side edges ofthe end pariel Z2 are VtuckV flaps 5S and S9, and a similiar set of tuck iiaps di? and 61 are hinged tothe side edges of the end panel Zd. The tuck flaps are smaller than either the top or bottom side flaps and when closed span'very little of the distance between the end panels to which they are attached. Each tuck flap SS-ei is provided witli'a transverse slot d2 and each slot has a connecting lead aperture tif-. It will be noted that each slit 62 -is convex in the direction of the connecting lead aperture. VAs will be more fully explained, the connecting lead apertures d4 and the convex arcuateV Vshape of the slots 62 facilitate the entry into the slots of the arrow-shaped tongueformations 4S.

FEG. l shows the carton after it has been set up, filled and subsequently closed. It will be noted that in this `filled and closed condition,V the barbed trailing ends of the arrow-shaped tongue formations 43 on the top side the top panel therefrom. As a result of this angular Y cut when the` edge portions of the top panel are cornpletely closed, as illustrated in FIG. 1, they will slope downwardly in accordancewith the angle of the cut on carton. Y

' The height of the'end panels is slightlyV less than the height of the bottles 12 ,which are to be heldV within the the corresponding slots 62 of the closed tuck flaps S, thus the top side aps are locked in their closed position. Moreover, the'central overlapV portion 52 of each top side flap overlaps the edge of the corresponding bottom side iiap 54 or 5d, as the case may be, to hold this bottom sideap'in its closed position. The slot 62 in each tuck iiap is spaced a sufficient distance from the bottom of the tuck flap that when the bottom iside flaps are closed,

Y thees siots'will remain accessible for the insertion of the tongue formations t8 on the top side flaps.

During the closing movement of the top side flaps 44 and 46, the tape-red forward ends Yof the tongue formations 4S, Vwhich are preferably slightly blunted, rst enter the leadapertures 64 and fthen the slots 62 themselves.

It will be noted that a speciahclosing motionisV provided in order to effect a smooth; substantially automatic Then the top side naps 44 and 46 are moved downwardly while their free edges are maintained Yin close proximity 1 to the underlying close-d side fiaps Si? and 6l Vor .S and 6d, asV the caseV may be, 'and tins movement is ailowedy to continue until the barbs on the tongue lformations .3V

P) lock in the tuck nap slots 62. Thi-s special closing rnotion is made possible by the hinging of the top side flaps 44 and 46 combined with the hinging of the top panel edge portions 18a and 13b (along fold lines 32 and 34). Were it not for this double or duplex hi-nging of the top side flaps and edge portions, the tongue formations d would have to be bent sharply out of the plane of the side aps to effect insertion into the slots 62, and consequently these tongue formations would be weakened and their efficiency impaired; moreover, without such hinging the carton would be much less adaptable to automatic mechanized closing.

When the carton 16 is initially set up, the bottom side aps 54 and 56 are lowered, the top side aps 44 and d6 are raised with their respective top panel edge portions 18a and 1817, and the tuck flaps S-l are pivoted outwardly. This is partially illustrated in FIG. 2 wherein one side of the carton is open. In addition to the initial opening of the side and tuck flaps, the double tabs 42a and 42b in each set 42 on the bottom of the carton are raised to their upstanding position. With the aps in their open position, the carton is completely open at both sides, and the bottles 12 may be charged into the carton. Since the carton is adapted to hold six bottles in two rows of three, three bottles would be charged into each side of the open carton.

As previously described, the height of the carton is preferably slightly less than the height ofl the bottles which are to be paclraged in the carton, and thus, the capped ends of the bottles will extend through the apertures 30 in the top panel 18. The carton may be easily loaded, however, for as best illustrated in FIG. 2, when the edge portions 18a and lSb are swung to their open position on fold lines 32 and 34, the apertures Sil are at least partially elevated above the height of the bottles so that the bottles may be inserted through the open sides of the carton without the necessity of tipping. When these top panel edge portions lSa and 18h are again lowered to their closed position as in the closing lmovement of the side aps and tuck flaps, the raised portions of the apertures are in effect lowered about the capped necks of the containers, and these capped necks will thus be locked in position within the apertures in the top panel.

After the bottles have been loaded into the carton from the sides, the tuck fiaps SS-ei are closed, and the bottom side flaps S4 and 55 are then folded upwardly over the closed tuck flaps. After the bottom side ilaps have been swung to their closed position, the edge portions ld and 13b of the top panel and the top side r'iaps dd and do' are moved toward their closed position. Because of the duplex hinging of the top panel edge portions and top side flaps, the tongue formations d may be'smoothly moved into a position where the tips thereof enter the leading aperatures 64 of the slots e2 and extend under the convex central portion of the slots. Upon further closing of the top side flaps and top panel edge portions, the top side flaps will move in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the closed tuck flaps, and the tongue formations 48 will be moved almost completely into the slots 62 and the barbs on the tongue formations will loch with the slot defining portions of the tuclf. flaps. As this closing movement takes place, the intermediate or central overlap portion 52 on each top side flap will be caused to overlap the corresponding bottom side aps 54 or 56, as the case may be, so that when the barbed tongue formation 43 are locked within the slots 62 in the tuclr flaps, the overlap portions S2 will lock the bottom sideflaps d and Sd in their closed position.

Since the tongue formations 4S may be moved naturally into the leading apertures and then into the slots of the tuck aps, the entire closing operation can be easily conducted by machines, and no Iadhesive is required to effect closing and sealing of the carton.

One of the features of this invention is the provision of the double push-up tabs 42 at the bottom of the carton.

Heretofore, single push-up tabs had been employed in various designs to achieve a lseparation between adjacent bottles in a carrying carton, lbut it was found that with double push-up tabs constructed in the manner herein described and illustrated, a significant increase in the protection of the bottles is achieved. This effect is achieved not so much as a result of the doubling of the thickness of the material between the bottles as it is from the general back-to-back, slightly spaced relationship between the tabs in each set. In order for the bases of the bottles to come into contact as under impact, it is first necessary that one of the tabs be completely deformed, and the resistance of these tabs to such deformation results in a .significant cushioning of the adjacent :bottles and gives maximum protection under conditions of impact.

A slightly modified carton 68 is illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, 7 and 8. The blank from which this carton is formed is illustrated in FIG. 7 and includes a top panel 70, a bottom panel '72 and a pair of end panels 74 and 75. These panels are identical in exterior configuration to the panels 13-24 of the previously described embodiment, and they are interconnected. Also, the lap 76 at the right-hand end of the lbottom panel 72 (see FIG. 7) is adhesively attached to the right-hand end of the end panel 75 to form the carton body which in FIG. 8 is illustrated in its collapsed condition, and in FIGS. 3 and 4 is illustrated in its set-up condition.

The top panel 70 is identical in all respects to the top panel 18 of the previously described embodiment and has six bottle neck receiving apertures 77 arranged in two rows of three, and the rows of apertures are intersected by fold lines 78 and 79 which define edge portions 'ma and 70h, respectively, of the top panel. The edge portions are disconnected from the end panels '74 and 75 and thus may be pivoted With respect to these en-d panels about the fold lines 73 and 79. A pair of finger holes 30 and Si in the top panel 7i) permit the carton to be easily carried in one hand.

Bottom panel 72 is substantially identical to the bottom panel 20 of the previously described embodiment. However, for purposes of illustration, the double tab formations 32 are provided only between the adjacent bottle spaces in each row, and single tabs 83 are employed between the two rows of bottles. Although better protection for the bottles against transverse impact is provided with the use of double tabs S2 both between the bottles in each row and between the rows, it lhas been found that due to the normal packaging, loading and handling techniques, most of the impact and jarring is encountered in the longitudinal direction, i.e., between the bottles in each row, rather than transverse, i.e., between the rows of bottles.

Spaced inwardly from the side edges of the bottom panel 72 are fold lines S4 and S5 which define edge portions 72a and 72b of the bottom panel, and these bottom panel edge portions are separated from the end panels 74 and 75 (and from lap '76). Thus, the edge portions 72a and 72b are free to move with respect to the end panels 74 and 75 about the fold lines 84 `and 86, respectively.

The end panels 74 and 75 are identical to the end panels 22 and 2d of the previously described embodiment, and these govern the height of the carton after itis set up. Additional finger holes 87 and 83 facilitate handling of the carton.

Hinged to the side edges of the top panel 7@ are top side flaps 39 and 96 which are similar to the top side aps 44 and 46 of the previously described embodiment. As in the case of that embodiment, the top side iiaps 89 vand 96 each carry a pair of spaced, substantially arrowshaped tongue formations 92 thereon, and intermediate these tongue formations on each side flap is a central guide piece 94. Each guide piece 94 has an interiorly disposed restricted portion 94a across which extends a fold line 96 Hinged to the side edges of the bottom panel 72 are 'Z bottom side lliaps 98 and 100, and these are identical to the top side aps 89 and 90. Each of the bottomside aps 98 and 100 carries a pair of spaced, substantially arrowshaped tongue formations 102 and an intermediate central guide piece 104, the latter being identical tothe guide pieces 94, and each having an interiorly disposed restricted portion 104a across which extends a fold line 106.

Attached to the side edges of the end'panel 74 are tuck aps 107 and 108, the top ends 10711 and 108:1, and the bottom ends 107b and 108b of which are tapered. A similarpair of tuck flaps 109 and 110 are attached to the side edges of the end panel 7S, and the top ends 199e and 110:1 and bottom ends 109b and 11017 of these tuck iiaps are alsor tapered. Each of the four tuck flaps has a y top slot 112 and a bottom slot 114, each top slot having a connecting lead aperture 116, and each bottom slot having a similar connecting lead aperture 118. The top and bottom slots are each convex in the direction of their respective lead apertures. v l

VThe carton 68 is setup in the same manner as the carton 16 of the previously described embodiment, i.e., with the side and tuck aps being opened to permit the insertion of the bottles12 through the sides of the carton, as partially illustrated in FIG. 4. When the carton has been loaded, the tuck flaps 107-110 are swung to their closed position, and the top side flaps 89 and 90 Mand the bottom side flaps 98 and 100 are moved toward their closed position.

The widths of the restricted portions 94a of the top side flap guide pieces 94 and the restricted portions 104e of the bottom flap guide pieces 104 are approximately equal to the distance between the free edges ofthe closed tuck aps 107 and 108 or 109 and 110, as the case may be, At the beginning of the sideV ap closing movement, the top side flap guide pieces v94 are inserted between the tapered top ends M-108m and 109a-110a of the tuck aps, and the bottom side ap guide'pieces 104 are in.

serted between the taperedl bottom ends 107b-'10Sb and 109b-110b of the tuck ilaps. insertion the guide pieces 94 and 104 may be bent inwardly toward the closed tuck ilaps along the fold lines 96 and 106, respectively.y The 'taper at the ends of the tuck flaps will cam the guide pieces and side iiaps into proper positionv during closing movement, and the restricted portions 94a and 104a of the guide pieces 94 and 104 will engage and ride between the edges of the closed 92 thereon will enter the connecting lead apertures 116 of the top slots 112 in the tuck iiaps, and inthe case of the bottom side flaps 98 and100, the tongue formations 102 .will enter the connecting lead apertures 118 of the bottom lslots 114 in the tuck aps.

l The double hinging of the top side ilaps is a result of both the hinging of the top panel VedgeV portions 70a and 70b.along vfold lines 78 and 80 and the hinged connection ofthe top side flaps themselves; In like manner, the doubler hinging of the bottom side tiaps is a result of both the hinging of the bottom panel edge portions 72a and72b along fold lines 84 and 86 andV the hinged conneotion of the bottom side aps themselves. This feature permits the Vtongue formations 92 and 102 to first enter If desired to Vfacilitate this Y In Vthe case of the top side flaps 89 and` 90, the tongue formations Y Y Y will lockingly engage in therslots to prevent subsequent accidental disengagement. Thus, the tuck flaps and side flaps will be locked in their closed position to retain the bottles within the carton. The side and tuck aps of the carrier carton 68, illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, may be closed mechanically aided by the double hinging of the top and bottom side aps and by the intermediate guide pieces of the side flaps.

Many variations of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the conguration of the tongue-and-slot formations may be changed somewhat, and the sideV tuck flaps mayV be altered both in size and in shape. the side aps completely close the sides of the carton, and this type of carton is especially advantageous for use in connection with beverages such as beer Which are affected by light, On the other hand, the carrying carton of the n' second embodiment is only partially Vclosed at the sides V'and extending parallel to the side edges thereof to defineV the lead apertures of the'tuck flap slots, and then to enter the barbs on the trailing endsV of the tongue formations after loading; thus, it is possible to see the bottle labels which is quite often desired. Both of the cartons herein illustrated and described combine the desired features of a glue-free closure and an improved bottle protection.

The carton is economical to produce, may be easily and automatically loaded and may be sealed without gluing. 1n addition, the double push-up tabs in the bottom of the carton provide maximum protection for the bottles against breakage on impact.

Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that many modiiications and changes in various details may be resorted Vto without departing from the spirit to said top panel and tuck ilaps hinged to the side edgesV of said end panels, said side and tuck aps being movable V between a closed position toat least partially close the sides of said body and an open position to 4at least partially expose both of said side openings and tofacilitate charging Vof containers intosaid body therethrough, said tuck flaps having solts therein, and said side flaps having forwardly tapered and rearwardly barbed tongue formations thereon adapted for insertion into and interlocking engagement with the slots in said tuck flaps, said top and bottom panels having fold lines spaced inwardly from may subsequently move substantially parallel to said Vtuck flaps to effect interlocking engagement of said formations.

2. A carrying carton for containers, said carton comprising: a top panel,.a bottom panel, and a pair of end panels interemediate said Vtop and bottom panels, said panel-s being connected toV form a collapsible body which when set up `is initially open Vat both sides, bottomV side flaps hinged tovsaid bottom panel,VY top side aps hinged to said Vtop panel and tuck iiaps hinged to the side edgesV of said end panels, :said 'side and tuck flaps being movable between a closed position to at least partially close the sides of said body' and an open position to at least partially expose both of said iside openings and to facilitate "charging of'continers into said Vbody therethrough, said tuck iiaps having `slots therein, and said side flaps having barbed tongue formations thereon adapted for insertion into and interlocking engagementwith the slots in said tuck flaps, said top andrbottorn panels having fold lines In the rst embodiment of the invention, Y

spaced inwardly from and extending parallel to the side edges thereof to define edge portions which are disconnected from and free to move with respect to the adjacent end panels, whereby after the tuck flaps have been closed, the tongues on said side aps may initially enter the slot formations in said tuck flaps Without substantial bending and said side naps may subsequently move substantially parallel to said tuck flaps to eect interlocking engagement of said formations, a central guide piece intermediate said tongue formations lon each of said `side flaps, the width of each guide piece being approximately equal to the space between the free edges of the tuck flaps when closed, whereby said side ilaps may be guided in their closing movement relative to said tuck aps and said tongue formations may he guided into said slots.

3. The Structure of claim 2 wherein each tuck flap slot has a connecting lead aperture and is convex in the direction of the lead aperture, whereby the tongue formations on said side llaps will initially enter the lead apertures of the slots, and upon further closing of the side flaps these formations will enter into and lock within said slots.

4. The structure of claim 2 wherein the sides of each tuck ap are tapered toward the free end thereof, and the central guide piece has a restricted neck portion which l0 during the closing movement of said side aps is deflected by the tapered tuck ap sides and is locked into sliding engagement with the free ends of the closed tuck flaps, thereby facilitating the movement of said tongue formations into said slots.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,023,714 4/ 12 Boeck'el 229-42 1,711,368 4/29 Vuccino 229-40 2,654,474 10/53 Ringler 20d-65 2,705,556 4/55 Ringler 206--65 2,798,603 7/57 Grinspoon 206-65 2,801,001 7/57 Wolowicz 206-65 2,823,797 2/58 Amatel 229-28 X` 2,899,051 8/59 Barnby 206-65 2,911,136 11/59 Stone 206-.65 2,926,782 3/60 Andre 220-112 3,035,692 5/62 Forrer 206-65 3,090,520 5/ 63 Wuerthner 220-112 3,108,414 10/63 Schleicheret al. 206-65 X FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. GEORGE O. RALSTON,Exami1zer. 

1. A CARRYING CARTON FOR CONTAINERS, SAID CARTON COMPRISING: A TOP PANEL, A BOTTOM PANEL, AND A PAIR OF END PANELS INTERMEDIATE SAID TOP AND BOTTOM PANELS, SAID PANELS BEING CONNECTED TO FORM A COLLAPSIBLE BODY WHICH WHEN SET UP IS INITIALLY OPEN AT BOTH SIDES, BOTTOM SIDE FLAPS HINGED TO SAID BOTTOM PANEL, TOP SIDE FLAPS HINGED TO SAID TOP PANEL AND TUCK FLAPS HINGED TO THE SIDE EDGES OF SAID END PANELS, SAID SIDE AND TUCK FLAPS BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN A CLOSED POSITION TO AT LEAST PARTIALLY CLOSE THE SIDES OF SAID BODY AND AN OPEN POSITION TO AT LEAST PARTIALLY EXPOSE BOTH OF SAID SIDE OPENINGS AND TO FACILITATE CHARGING OF CONTAINERS INTO SAID BODY THERETHROUGH, SAID TUCK FLAPS HAVING SLOTS THEREIN, AND SAID SIDE FLAPS HAVING FORWARDLY TAPERED AND REARWARDLY BARBED TONGUE FORMATIONS THEREON ADAPTED FOR INSERTION INTO AND INTERLOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SLOTS IN SAID TUCK FLAPS, SAID TOP AND BOTTOM PANELS HAVING FOLD LINES SPACED INWARDLY FROM AND EXTENDING PARALLEL TO THE SIDE EDES THEREOF TO DEFINE EDGE PORTIONS WHICH ARE DISCONNECTED FROM AND FREE TO MOVE WITH RESPECT TO THE ADJACENT END PANELS, WHEREBY AFTER THE TUCK FLAPS HAVE BEEN CLOSED THE TONGUES ON SAID SIDE FLAPS MAY INITIALLY ENTER THE SLOT FORMATIONS IN SAID TUCK FLAPS WITHOUT SUBSTANTIAL BENDING AND SAID SIDE FLAPS MAY SUBSEQUENTLY MOVE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID TUCK FLAPS TO EFFECT INTERLOCKING ENGAGEMENT OF SAID FORMATIONS. 